New RTK items - Cave In cassingle, Zozobra shirt, zip-up hoodie

New stuff available on www.realtomatoketchup.com You know the drill. Only 2 hoodies and one shirt, so if you are at all interested, you should snag them now.

CHROMATIC music/art book

Alarm Press is working on publishing a book entitled "Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color and Music" which will include contributions from Faith Coloccia, Aaron Turner as well as many others. They are currently trying to raise funds to get the 400 page book printed. If you would like to donate or want more info go here.

Gridlink Grindcore Karaoke Contest!

GRIDLINK (the greatest grindcore band in the world as crowned by Grind and Punishment) are set to release their new record Orphan on March 29th 2011 on LP/CD/Digital. Preorder it here.

In honor of Orphan's impending release (and subsequent decimation of listeners' ability to not lose their shit) we are holding a contest. Each format of the record will come with Karaoke Versions of all the songs (the LP via download code, the CD via enhanced content). Sugarbear (aka Andrew Cox) assembled this karaoke video for the title track so you can shred your vocal cords at home!

To enter the contest, make a video of yourself (or whoever) performing "Orphan" karaoke, upload it to youtube, and post the link in the comments for this post. The deadline is March 22nd, 2011.

The winner(s) will be chosen by Jon Chang (Gridlink, Hayaino Daisuki, Discordance Axis), and will receive a test press of the Orphan / Amber Grey LP, plus whatever else we decide to throw in. 

No purchase necessary. 

Jesu on Ping

For you Apple iTunes acolytes who have pounced on Ping, Jesu is on there and actually using it very well.

In probably the best use of it we have seen, Justin Broadrick has been compiling a playlist (currently 56 songs) of music that has influenced Jesu. From Cocteau Twins to The Monkees, it is an eclectic and occasionally surprising mix.

If you use Ping, follow Jesu and even if you don't, check out the playlist. Looks like he will keep adding to it, too.

Jesu releases are available in the Hydra Head shop, Hydra Head Download store, Amazon, iTunes and wherever else you buy good music.

New RTK items - Jesu, Jesu, Jesu!

Look! There are like six new Jesu items in the store, including an awesome "Will trade for merch!" cardboard sign!

Larry Herweg, Expert

Fresh faced and eager to inform the public, the merry prankster (we told you he anonymously mailed a butthole calendar to our office, right?) Larry Herweg is on a couple of panels as part of Scion's Music(less) Conference.

First up, Integrity and Selling Out in 2010, followed by Artists As Businesses.

Get out your legal pads, kids! It's learning time!

Gridlink - Orphan preorder!

Dear current and future Gridlink fans,
The Hydra Head Shop pre-order for Gridlink's new record, Orphan has begun today, Monday the 14th of February.
You can find the pre-order pages HERE once they are live.

- Gridlink - Orphan / Amber Grey LP + download
Includes both Gridlink records on one LP (one record per side) plus a download code for both, including karaoke versions of all songs. Extremely limited to 500 pieces total. Available on Black vinyl and Blood Red vinyl.

-Gridlink - Orphan CD
The new Gridlink record on an enhanced CD that contains karaoke versions of the songs, accessible using your computer's CD drive.

- Gridlink - Limited Edition Shirt
Coinciding with the presale of Orphan, this limited edition shirt will only be printed once!

New on RTK - Melvins Box, 324 LP

Check out the new items on Real Tomato Ketchup

324 - japanese grindcore for fans of Discordance Axis and Gridlink, we got these LPs from Jon Chang a while back.

Melvins - A Senile Animal box set. This managed to hang around the office until now.

Pelican Wooden box - It's been up there a while, but we reduced shipping a little on these last three copies.

New RTK items - Oxbow 12", Khlyst, Greymachine shirts! Harvey Milk FLAC

Get 'em while they're hot.

Also, Harvey Milk s/t and Life.. The Best Game in Town are now available in FLAC on the Hydra Head download store.

Cave In - Live this week!

Our old pal Steve Brodsky just sent us this email:

Cave In's gonna do a short set this Thursday with Scott Kelly + Wino:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=174340415926642

Feel free to spread the word.

Also trying to work out getting this on video.

Hope all's well,

Steve

In case you are facebook impaired (like Shitty Jimmy) here are the details in plain text:

Scott Kelly(Neurosis), Wino(St. Vitus), Steve Brodsky & Cave-In, Keith Bennett

Thursday, February 10th at 9:00pm - 12:00am

Great Scott

1222 Commonwealth Ave

Allston, MA

tickets: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3353245

Ask Steve about the time Mark shot fireworks at him indoors.

Xasthur on David Letterman

Ok, so it's not quite Malefic making a rare live appearance on national television, but the bassist from Best Coast is totally rocking the Xasthur: 2005 Demo t-shirt. Watch below.



You can buy the shirt HERE (especially if you are about to play a late night talk show).

Thanks to Justin Robbins for the tip.